Lady Magazine Winter/Spring 2014 by Lady Magazine Online

Heart Matters

YOUR PURPOSE

& 3 Ways To Awaken It

Special Print Edition

bold. beautiful.

Jennine bERNARD

redeeming the legacy

LADY

WINTER/SPRING 2014

BEHIND THE MUSIC

of Tina Daniel Rising Artist

naturalista an online health and lifestyle magazine for Christian women

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from the Editor’s Desk This winter has not only been a long one, but it has also been a very rewarding one. In February, I was crowned Ms. Arkansas United States by the Miss United States Organization (Washington, D.C.). The Miss United States Organization is the fastest growing pageant in the nation providing an avenue of achievement for women and girls ages 8 to 39. At a local, state, and national level, the program promotes each titleholder’s platform for service, while acting as a national partner with Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society. I can’t begin to tell you how humbled I am to receive this position within the MUSO. For years I have always strived to be an example to my peers. I remember when I was in the fifth grade, I started a club called “The Good Girls Club” with the help of my guidance counselor. My club mates and I had regular meetings, wrote letters to elderly people, and spent our time trying to come up with ways to promote good behavior in our classrooms.

From one lady to another.

Editor/Publisher Sherry@ladymagazinetoday.org

It’s amazing how we can be so in tuned with our purpose from an early age, not realizing that no matter what detours we take in life, the experiences that we gain along the way ultimately prepares us for our destiny. Never lose sight of your passions. They will lead you to your purpose!

Winter/Spring 2014 | LADY

in this issue

3 From The Editor’s Desk 5 Lady Killer 6 Three Ways to Awaken Your Purpose 8 Bold, Beautiful, Natrualista Feature: Jennine Bernard 12 Behind The Music Feature: Tina Daniel 15 Love Is...

Lady Killer

Copyright © 2014. Lady Magazine All rights reserved. Lady Magazine Online w w w.ladymagazinetoday.org email: info@ladymagazinetoday.org submissions@ladymagazinetoday.org Photo Credit: Cover Photo/Naturalista: Solomon Bonaparte https://w w w.facebook.com/solomon.bonaparte Editor ’s Page: Uché Onyeyiri, Sky Touche Photos w w w.skytouchephotos.com Music: Marchello Eans, Umoja Fotography https://w w w.facebook.com/pages/Umoja-Fotography/636741383008812 Marshawn Evans, MarshawnEvans.com Heart: MorgueFiles.com

Winter/Spring 2014

Tina Daniel

Jennine Bernard

Lady Killer: What You Need to Know about Heart Disease by Precious Johnson-Arabidg

12,000 miles a day. 3,000 marathons a week. Nearly 800 round trips from New York to Los Angeles every year. That’s how much your heart works to pump blood through the body. Weighing in at a mere 10 ounces, the average heart will produce enough electricity to power a football field for almost 6 hours. But despite being our most hardworking muscle, we often fail to treat it with the care it deserves, and we’re paying a steep price. According to Centers for Disease Control, heart disease claims the lives of over 600,000 Americans every year – that’s the entire population of Boston or Washington, D.C. And in the US, heart disease is the leading cause of death for African American and Caucasian women, accounting for 25% of deaths annually. Globally, the numbers are even more staggering. Heart disease is to blame for almost half of deaths among women. In fact, it’s our number one killer. So are you next? Perhaps it’s time for a little self-assessment. Major risk factors include the usual suspects: obesity, lack of exercise, poor diet, high LDL cholesterol and high blood pressure. And today, age is not a factor. While family history and genetics can also play a part, doctors agree that most of us can take steps to reduce our risk of heart attack and heart failure. Walk it out ... briskly! A recent study published by the American Heart Association discovered that walkers reduced their risk of diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure as much as runners. Say what? Try to squeeze in a brisk 30-minute walk every day. You'll probably shed those extra pounds along the way.

Load up on fruit, vegetables and whole grains. Combating high cholesterol can be as simple as skipping that afternoon raid on the vending machine. Instead, snack on a delicious orange, baby carrots, a handful of cashews or tortilla chips with hummus. Why? The fiber and water in fruit and veggies will make you feel fuller longer, with the added benefit of reducing your body’s absorption of sugar and cholesterol. You can never go wrong with a hearty salad or oven-roasted treats like cauliflower and brussel sprouts. Fight plaque build-up in your arteries by starting your day with a bowl of oatmeal, and by trading in white rice for brown or wild rice. Look to the sea. Salmon, trout, mackerel, oh my! Enjoy the benefits of fatty acids that help decrease bad cholesterol and blood pressure. Reduce stress and monitor blood pressure. Proverbs 17 said it best, "A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones." So don't skip Wednesday night bible study, your yoga session or your weekly R & R with the girls or the hubby. The good Lord created the Sabbath for a reason, so use it. And don't underestimate the power of fellowship with friends or a new Kevin Hart comedy. Visit your physician. Yes, it’s time for a heart to heart with the person who knows your heart best. Schedule an appointment with your primary care physician to get a physical and routine work-up to see where you stand with your blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, nutrition and sodium intake. Hosea 4:6 tells us, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge,” so get informed, ask questions and start treating your temple the way it deserves. Remember, your heart has miles and miles and miles to go before you sleep!

WInter/Spring 2014 | LADY 5

Three Ways to Awaken Your Purpose

“Many plans are in a man’s mind, but it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand.” ~Proverbs 19:21

Marshawn Evans

Marshawn Evans is a Global Mentor and Catalyst for Women looking to Launch Their Dreams and Live Their Purpose. She equips others to AMPLIFY their lives, their leadership and their legacy by teaching the principles of influence, branding, and divine purpose. Her weekly eZine goes out to thousands of subscribers. Are you ready to unleash your brilliance and align with your REAL destiny? Sign up for a FREE subscription at

www.marshawnevans.com.

6 LADY | Winter/Spring 2014

3 God designed you with a purpose. That is the truth. Just because you’re not feeling your purpose, however, that doesn’t mean it’s gone. It doesn’t mean you never had one. You purpose may be tempered, hidden or dormant, but it’s still with you. In fact, your purpose is the absolute essence of you. But the fact that it’s there doesn’t mean it’s all that easy to see. Here are a few ways we keep ourselves from seeing our purpose… and what to do to wake it up:

1. You lose sight of your true purpose when “wrong vision” hides it. What I mean by that is that God is calling

you to something BIG, but you keep looking at things that you have been taught to look at… Things that have been put in front of you all your life. They are distractions. They are small. They use up a lot of your energy and your attention. Sometimes the wrong vision can come from your family and friends and what they are doing—or from trying to live the life that other people live or make you think you’re supposed to live. To awaken your purpose, you must stop looking at what seems “good” and start sensing what God is leading you to do.

2. You keep looking for purpose in all the wrong places. Purpose is not

something that you find; it is something that you awaken. It is something that you bring forth that has always been there. Sometime you can’t find it or see it because you are looking outside yourself for what has always been within you. If you’ve had the experience of buying yet another brand-new self-help book that was going to be your salvation, you’ve looked for purpose outside yourself.

www.MarshawnEvans.com

In Jeremiah 1:5, one of my favorite scriptures, God says, “Before I formed you in your mother’s womb, I knew you.” I find the very idea that God would form and fashion and design me both comforting and energizing at the same time.

God had an intentional design for you. He intended something to come forth. There was always an intent associated with your birth. He goes on to say: “I intended something very special for you.” And, “I made you a prophet to the nations.” God’s plans are that is embedded in your DNA and your voice. That’s how important you are. To awaken your purpose, you must ask God who He has always intended for you to become, not just asking him to bless your plans.

3. You discount the importance of your purpose. Sometimes, you don’t want

to find your purpose because some part of you just doesn’t want to. Maybe you think life will get too hard. You’ll have to step up your game, be someone else, or lose freedom or downtime or your comfy old lifestyle. If this sounds like you, know that your purpose is the very thing that God is asking to be awakened. Whether you get busy or distracted… or just get very good at ignoring God when He tries to speak to us, we really need to remember how vital this is.

So… how do you awaken your purpose? One of the simplest and most effective ways is simply to listen. Carve out time to listen to God’s message for you. Pray with a surrendered heart and ask to be shown what you need to know and who will walk with you on your path. Keep your purpose’s awakening in the front of your mind and heart. Remember the incredible power of intention and expectation. Expect Heaven to speak. Be open to the signs, nudges, and confirmations.

WInter/Spring 2014 | LADY 7

Bold.

BEAUTIFUL naturalista

Lives in Saint George, Grenada. Profession: Attorney-at-Law called to the Bar in Grenada, Trinidad, and Tobago. Master of Laws Candidate specializing in Legislative Drafting.

8 LADY | Winter/Spring 2014

ÂŠ2013 Solomon Bonaparte

Jennine bERNARD Winter/Spring 2014 | LADY

Once my hair was short, I received both positive and negative comments. While some supported my decision and the new look, others were opposed to

10 LADY | Winter/Spring 2014

MY LAST PERM... The last time I chemically straightened my hair was six years ago. My next straightening appointment was drawing near and I just decided against it. I would describe my hair... It is difficult for me to describe my hair or fit it into the hair typing system. My hair is probably somewhere between 4b and 4c but I prefer to apply hair-care advice tailored for “4c” hair. I chose to go natural when... I had chemically straightened hair for eight years and over time I started enjoying passing my fingers through my new growth because it felt so interesting. The inspiration for my decision was a remark by a close friend made days before my next straightening was due. He said that he did not understand why I have ever altered my hair. It was food for thought because I was frustrated with the thin straight hair that had become my reality while the legend had it that my childhood natural hair was ‘thickness’ defined. So my primary motive was to achieve thick hair again even though I remembered the many tears directly linked to the combination of my mother, a comb and my natural hair. I was also curious to rediscover my hair. I cut off the straight ends closest to my hairline to ensure that I could not change my mind. Then, gradually, I cut the rest of my hair over a couple weeks. Finally, I mustered up the courage to do the “big chop”. I love to wear my hair like... My signature style is chunky twist-outs simply because I never mastered the art of hairstyling and most of the time my hair is in chunky twists wrapped in a bun. So for special occasions or to signify a good or adventurous mood, I wear it all out. being natural... For the few weeks of my transition, it was tough because I was an intern at a law firm. I had decided against installing extensions and I was never a pro hairstylist in the least, not to mention my edges were butchered and completely natural. My frustration with the transitional stage contributed to me making the decision to do the “big chop” sooner than I had originally planned.

it. Working in a law firm as a 19-year-old intern who was trying to figure who she was WITH a “teeny weeny afro” was challenging. I was mostly surrounded by women who held the view that a professional look required straight hair. However, I was raised as a Christian and I believed that God created me the way He intended me to be, with no mistakes. I soon realized that any subtle or overt attack on my hair was a direct attack on ME as opposed to my decision. The negative comments may have hurt my pride but they never engendered regret over my decision. With time, my pride grew immune to the negative comments because I loved my hair enough for me and the masses. A few months after my “big chop”, I left my job to commence my undergraduate degree so I need not worry about conforming to unwritten, misguided codes of professional appearance until in fact my hair was long enough to be twisted and fastened in some way. Some pressure returned when I started graduate school because the dress code for Caribbean law schools is conservative with professional wear in sober colors. The pressure was not as intense as it was the workplace but I actually only wore my hair untwisted on three occasions during the two years. Twice I wore twistouts and once I wore an afro for character building. I did not receive unfavorable attention but by then I had established within myself that wearing my hair out was a deliberate decision to express my creativity which vastly contrasts my default reserved disposition. So that was more of personal choice than conformity under pressure. How I embrace my natural... I have come to view my hair as a sacred part of me that I want to protect and reserve most of the time then unleash onto the world on special occasions. I live a life of dichotomy – I am an attorney-at-law and an artist – and I enjoy using my hair to convey which side of the balance I’m operating. But in my artistic capacity, my hair is ALWAYS featured! I am from the Caribbean island of Grenada and I am of East-Indian and West-African descent. However, unlike my mother and my sister, my hair does not bear strong witness to my East-Indian ancestry. For that reason, as a child, I always wanted straighter and longer hair. On-lookers did not hesitate to

vocalise that “[I] didn’t take [my] mother’s hair at all”. The pressure came from everywhere. So learning to love my hair was a major obstacle that I had to conquer when I went natural. However, throughout this journey, I have received reaffirmation that to hate my hair is to hate myself. The more I embraced my hair as an integral part of me, the more I identified with my hair. I realized that I was just as misunderstood as my hair and I started to appreciate what being “mixed” meant for me. That there was no simple way to be described except to be called “mixed”. That to be understood required time, effort and patience. But that it would ALWAYS a highly worthy investment! Now it is quite interesting that on-lookers are rather anxious to attribute my healthy, long hair to my East-Indian ancestry. For me, my hair is an integral element of the masterpiece that God has entrusted me with for me to optimize, and love is the greatest optimizer. So my hair? I not only like it, I love it! It provides yet another reason to love ME. My Regimen... Cantu Shea Butter Leave In Conditioning Repair Cream, has been a staple for me for the last three years and NOTHING has been able to replace it. I generally favour products that feature shea butter and are void of mineral oil. I have tried raw shea butter but I ended up with build-up quite quickly. Recently, I have been experimenting with coconut oil, vitamin E oil and/or apple cider vinegar mixed with water for daily moisturizing. While these get the job done, I would not praise them for any remarkable results as yet but they provide moisture with minimal build-up. You Can Find Me...

Jennine J. Bernard (Berjujen Mezzo) @BerjujenMezzo facebook.com/jen.j.bernard

BEHIND THE MUSIC

TINA DANIEL

“I come from a family of quartet singers. I remember as a little girl traveling with my family to gospel musical programs every weekend.” 12 LADY | Winter/Spring 2014

//////Rising Artist Influences

I have been performing my own music since I was 18. Although I started writing songs when I was 10, I didn't record in a professional studio until I was 18. When I was 17 I started working so I could save enough money for my first professional CD recording.

The greatest influences in my life are my parents, Pastor Robert and Kamellow Adams. Both my mom and dad raised me up with Godly counsel. They helped me blossom into an anointed gospel singer. When I was young, I didn't want to hear the constructive criticism from my mom and dad but after each performance they gave me feedback. They taught me that I had to feel what I was singing and that pushed me to give my all in each song.

Your Message?

The message I'm sharing through my music and my walk with Jesus Christ is that you can be young, love the Lord with all of your heart and still have fun. We should trust, lean and depend on him through all things. My music has evolved into a contemporary pop Gospel. I enjoy the energy in these types of songs. However, I will always be a worshiper. Every now and then we should slow down and hear the voice of the Lord through great worship music.

Inspiration...

All of my songs are based on my life experiences. My husband, who is a producer, writes for me. He writes my music based on what I tell him I'm feeling. For me, the words of a song must be personal. I don't know any other way to present music. Experiences help me shape my message. I’ve been shut out of groups and certain gatherings because of my walk with Christ. I’ve also been told that I was too “Churchy.” But I am reminded of Matthew 5:12 which says “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” I know I am on the right path.

Oppositions... Satan sends attacks against people who use their gifts for the Kingdom. He sends detractions because he know that a detracted Christian is ineffective in their ministry. I remember times when I would be getting ready to deliver a word or sing a song before congregants and I would get into a petty argument with my husband right before going on stage.

...

There are days when everything that could go wrong does go wrong. If you've ever tried to deliver a positive message or sing a song while you're upset, you know it’s a struggle. When your mind is somewhere else, you can't deliver your best to God's people. The devil will use anything to try and set us back. We have to be able to recognize Satan's tactics and rebuke him right in that very moment.

Winter/Spring 2014 | LADY

Your gifts...

Women who have God given gifts should use their gifts for Jesus. As Christians, we were made to bring glory to God. Do not be moved by temptation to please the world. The world is increasingly wicked. There are plenty of young women who are desperately searching for a role model, a mentor or an example. We have to be the example God is calling us to be. When we use our gifts for God, lives can be transformed for the better; people can be delivered and set free by the Holy Spirit. If we don't use our gifts for God, no deliverance can take place. Working to please the world is hard work. You will find yourself broken, beat down, depressed, and bound by the ways of this world. (This is why so many secular artists get strung out on drugs and have so many other problems) But when you use your gifts for

14 LADY | Winter/Spring 2014

God, not only will people began to be saved through your ministry but you will enter into a peace that surpasses all understanding. Nothing can take the place of this peace, not money, friends, or fame....nothing.

FOLLOW TINA TODAY

Twitter: @tinamariedaniel http://tinadaniel.bandcamp.com/

To preview and purchase a song from Tina’s upcoming album, go on iTunes or any online music retailer and download “Especially”

What Is Love? It Definitely

Isn't...

•Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:7-8) •Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8) •Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. (1 John 3:15-16 •Let all that you do be done in love. (1 Corinthians 16:14) •Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

When someone’s emotional well-being is attacked or undermined directly, it is called emotional abuse. Emotional abuse is a term that can be applied to a broad range of behaviors, and it typically overlaps with physical and sexual abuse, as well as with neglect. All of these types of abuse have negative emotional consequences for the victim. Emotional abuse usually occurs when the victim experiences a pattern of behavior that undermine their self-worth or happiness. These incidents can include behaviors like: •Rejecting, ridiculing, or belittling •Verbal abuse: name-calling, cursing or yelling •Threatening harm or putting the victim in harm's way •Isolating the victim or preventing them from making contact with others •Corrupting the victim, for example, by encouraging immoral or illegal activities •Ignoring the victim; failing to respond to emotional or other needs, especially if the victim is in a dependent position.

National Domestic Abuse Hotline For over 17 years, the National Domestic Violence Hotline has been the vital link to safety for women, men, children and families affected by domestic violence. With the help of our dedicated advocates and staff, we respond to calls 24/7, 365 days a year. 1(800)799-SAFE(7233)

Some information used from: http://addictions.about.com/od/familyrelationships/f/emotional_abuse.htm

...expressed as an action and experienced as a feeling. It can’t be defined in one particular way. It encompasses compassion, determination, tolerance, endurance, support, faith, and much more. There are elements of love which we have all experienced; however, too often people try to redefine these elements for their own personal gain. Physical abuse isn’t the only type of abuse there is.

EMOTIONAL ABUSE

Love Is...

Lady Quote

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

~ PROVERBS 4:23